Projects & Tutorials

How to Sew a Zippered Makeup Bag with Lining

A lined zippered pouch is a beginner's introduction to bag construction with structure. Includes the tab method for clean zipper ends. Step-by-step tutorial with diagrams.

A zippered makeup bag is the next step up from a basic zipper pouch. The construction is similar but adds two refinements: a lining (so the inside is finished and clean), and zipper tabs (small fabric strips that cover the zipper ends for a tidy finish). The result is a small lined bag that looks shop-bought.

This tutorial walks through both techniques. They transfer directly to larger lined bags, pencil cases, and travel pouches.

What you need

  • Outer fabric: 0.25 m of medium-weight cotton, canvas, or laminated cotton.
  • Lining fabric: 0.25 m of cotton lawn, broadcloth, or quilting cotton.
  • Zipper: 20 cm regular zipper (slightly longer than the bag width — the excess is cut off with the tab method).
  • Optional interfacing: medium-weight fusible for added body.
  • Sewing machine, zipper foot, thread, pins, scissors, fabric marker, iron.

Sizing

For a standard makeup bag (about 22 × 14 cm finished):

  • Outer fabric: two pieces 24 × 16 cm.
  • Lining fabric: two pieces 24 × 16 cm.
  • Zipper tabs: two small pieces 5 × 5 cm of outer fabric.
  • Zipper: 20 cm.

The bag pieces are slightly wider than the zipper because the tabs add about 4 cm total to the zipper length.

Zipper with fabric tabs at each end tab zipper teeth tab Tabs cover the zipper ends — no raw zipper sticking out Final assembly stack: outer zipper lining
Zipper tabs cover the metal stops and tape ends, giving the bag a clean finish at both sides without exposed zipper hardware.

Step 1: Add zipper tabs

This is what makes the bag look professional. Each tab is a small fabric square that wraps around the zipper end.

For each tab:

  1. Take a 5 × 5 cm square of fabric.
  2. Fold the top and bottom edges to the centre (each fold about 1 cm). Press.
  3. The square now has clean folded edges on top and bottom, with raw edges hidden inside.

To attach:

  1. Trim the zipper to be 2 cm longer than the finished bag width (e.g., for a bag 22 cm wide, the zipper after attaching tabs should be 22 cm; trim it to 20 cm before adding tabs).
  2. Place one zipper end inside the fold of one tab (fabric wraps both sides of zipper end).
  3. Sew across the fabric to capture the zipper inside. Trim excess.
  4. Repeat for the other end.

The zipper now has tabs at both ends, and the total length (zipper + tabs) equals the bag width.

Step 2: Cut the bag pieces

Cut all four bag rectangles (2 outer, 2 lining) and any interfacing.

If using interfacing, fuse it to the wrong side of the outer fabric pieces now.

Step 3: Sew the zipper between outer and lining

This is the trick to a clean lined zipper bag.

  1. Lay one outer piece right side up on the table.
  2. Place the zipper on top, right side down, with the zipper’s top tape aligned with the top edge of the outer piece.
  3. Place one lining piece on top, right side down, with its top edge aligned with the zipper tape.
  4. Pin all three layers together along the top edge.
  5. Using a zipper foot, sew along the zipper tape, capturing all three layers in one seam.

The zipper is now sandwiched between outer and lining. Flip both pieces away from the zipper and press.

Repeat with the second outer piece and second lining piece on the other side of the zipper:

  1. Lay the second outer piece right side up.
  2. Place the partially-assembled zipper unit on top, with the unsewn zipper tape at the top.
  3. Place the second lining piece on top, right side down.
  4. Pin and sew along the zipper tape.

Both sides of the zipper are now attached to outer and lining pieces.

Step 4: Topstitch the zipper

For a more polished look, topstitch along each side of the zipper, on the outer fabric. This holds the lining away from the zipper teeth and prevents the lining from getting caught in the zipper.

Sew about 3 mm from the zipper teeth on each side, through the outer fabric and lining.

Step 5: Sew the bag bottom and sides

This is where most beginners pause. The trick: keep the outer fabric pieces together, the lining pieces together, but as a single continuous unit.

  1. Open the zipper at least halfway (this is critical — you’ll need it open to turn the bag).
  2. Fold the unit so the two outer pieces are right sides together, and the two lining pieces are right sides together.
  3. Pin around all three remaining sides (the bottom and two sides).
  4. Sew with a 1 cm seam allowance, leaving a 8 cm gap unsewn at the bottom of the lining for turning.

Step 6: Box the corners (optional)

For a 3D bag with a flat bottom:

  1. At each bottom corner, pinch the seam so the bottom and side seams align.
  2. Mark a triangle 2–3 cm in from the corner.
  3. Sew across the triangle, perpendicular to the seams.
  4. Trim the small triangle.

Repeat for all four corners (two on outer, two on lining).

This creates a structured base that lets the bag stand upright.

Step 7: Turn and finish

  1. Through the open zipper and the gap in the lining, turn the entire bag right-side out.
  2. Push out the corners with a chopstick.
  3. Pull the lining out through the gap and hand-stitch the gap closed with a slip stitch (see our 10 essential hand stitches guide).
  4. Push the lining back inside.
  5. Press carefully (don’t iron the zipper directly — the plastic teeth can melt).

Common issues

The zipper got caught in the seam

Open the zipper before sewing the bottom and sides. Closed zippers trap the slider and you can’t turn the bag.

The lining is visible above the zipper

Topstitching the zipper (step 4) prevents this. If you skipped it, redo it now.

The corners are bulky

Trim the seam allowance at corners after sewing the perimeter. Don’t cut into the stitching.

The bag won’t stand up

If you boxed the corners but it still doesn’t stand, the fabric isn’t stiff enough. Add interfacing on a future version, or use a stiffer fabric.

What this teaches

The zippered lined makeup bag introduces:

  • Sewing zippers with a zipper foot
  • Lining a small project (the burrito-style technique)
  • Boxing corners for structure
  • Hand-finishing a lining gap

These skills transfer directly to lined dresses, jackets, and larger bags. For the next step, see our working with linings guide for full-garment lining technique.

Closing thought

A lined zippered makeup bag is the project that bridges beginner and intermediate. It introduces the burrito-style lining method (where you turn the entire project through a small opening), zipper tabs for professional finish, and structural details like boxed corners. The result is a real-life-quality bag that’s an excellent gift, and the skills transfer to almost every subsequent lined sewing project.

For more beginner projects, see our 25 beginner sewing projects guide. For the simpler unlined version, see our zipper pouch tutorial.

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